Method of manufacturing bismuth shot

A method of die casting bismuth alloy shot comprising the steps of:

• heating a bismuth alloy to a predetermined temperature to thereby melt the bismuth alloy;
• injecting the molten bismuth alloy into a sprue hole in a die block, the sprue hole connected to a sprue channel in the die block, the die block consisting of two die halves having opposing die faces, wherein each die face contains a plurality of substantially hemispherical impressions that are aligned with associated substantially hemispherical impressions on the opposing die face so as to form substantially spherical cavities when the two die halves are brought together and wherein at least one of the hemispherical impressions on at least one die face has an interconnection with at least one other hemispherical impression to allow molten bismuth alloy to flow therebetween and wherein at least one hemispherical impression on at least one die face has an interconnection with the sprue channel;
• waiting a predetermined period of time to allow the molten bismuth alloy to solidify into an array of shot pellets;
• separating the two die halves;
• and
• ejecting the solidified shot pellet array from the die block.